Hanger for floating roofs



June 7, 1932. G. T. HORTON HANGER FOR FLOATING ROOFS Filed Jan. 12. 1951 jwenn Patented June 7, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE T. HORTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CHICAGO BRIDGE AND IRON COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS HANGER FOR FLOATING ROOFS Application filed January 12, 1931. Serial No. 508,279.

This invention relates to improvements in hangers for floating roofs and, more especial- 1y, a hanger adapted for the temporary support of such a floating roof adapted for use in liquid storage tanks.

In the storage of gasoline, hydrocarbon oils, and other volatile liquids, it is customary to employ a floating roof that floats on the surface of the liquid in the tank in order to eliminate or lessen evaporation losses.

In such tanks, it is frequently necessary or desirable to empty the tank of liquid for cleaning purposes, and the like, and in such cases,.it is highly desirable to support the roof a sufiicient distance ab 've the bottom of the tank to permit the entry of workmen thereunder. In the normal operation of the I roof, however, it is desirable that the roof descend to a lower point than fixed by such temporary support.

My improved hanger is adapted for use as a temporary support for the purposes above described and the same will now be discussed more in detail.

Other features and advantages of my invention will a pear more fully as I proceed with my spec' cation.

In that form of device embodying the features of my invention shown in the accompanying drawing-- Figure 1 is a view in side elevation; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale showing the hanger; and Figs. 3 and 4 are views in perspective of parts of the apparatus.

As shown in the drawing, the tank is here indicated as comprising a cylindrical shell 1O with a bottom 11. The shell, as here shown, is made with overlapping plates 10, 10 and the like, fastened together by rivets 10. This is an ordinary form oftank construction.

The floating roof is represented by 12 and includes the circular supporting pontoon 12 with the central sheet metal portion 12". A floating roof of this kind is ordinarily made of somewhat smaller diameter than the diameter of the tank so that it will move 'freely upwardly and downwardly. This leaves an annular space 13 between the periphery of die roof and the wall of the tank. Suitable means are ordinarily pro- Such sealing means, i

to bear against the inner wall of the tank For convenience, these shoes are here shown as supported by hangers 15 and 16 indicates a flexible fabric strip sealing the space between thefshoes and the periphery of the floating roo Any sealing means having members such as'the shoes 14 or equivalent means adapted to slide along the inner wall of the tank usually has such members provided with inwardly bent beveled or curved edges, as indicated by 14?, to permit the same to ride over unevennesses on the inner wall of the tank, such as, for example, the edges of overlapping plates 10 and the heads 10 of rivets 10 e 7 My improved hanger includes a pluralit for example, four or more, relatively thin plates 17 attached tothe inner wall of the tank 10 by welding or otherwise. The'se plates, as shown in Fig. 3 have a portion cut out, as indicated by 17*, or the reception of the hooks 18, shown in Fig. 4.

There is provided a hook for each of the plates 17, and these hooks are attached to the periphery of the deck 12 by the flexible members or chains 19. When the hangers are not in use, the hooks are removed from the sockets and carried on the floating deck.

The sockets 17 are preferably thin enough so that the shoes 14 or other members used in connection with the sealing apparatus Will ride over the same, for example, such socket pieces 17 may not be substantially thicker than the thickness of the plates 1O plus orie of the rivet heads 10 If the plates 17 are no thicker than this, the sealing members 14will ride over the same just as easily as they willride over the joints made by the overlapping plates in the tank construction. It is to be noted that the plates 17 are relatively thin, 1

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While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the 'construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended.

claims, in which it is my intention to claim all novelty inherent in my invention as broadly as permissible, in View of the prior art.

What I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination with a tank and a floating roof therefor having sealing means ineluding parts adapted to slide vertically along the inner wall of the tank, a hanger for said roof including relatively. thin wide socket members fastened to the inner wall or the tank and hooks flexibly attached to the floating roof adapted for engagement with the said socket members, said socket members being thin enough so that the aforementioned parts of the sealing means adapted to slide along the inner wall of the tank will slide over said socket members without substantially impeding the vertical movements of the floating roof.

2 In combination with a tank formed of overlapping plates and a floating roof therefor, a hanger in said floating roof including a relatively thin wide socket member attached to the inner wall of the tank, said socket member being not substantially thicker than the thickness of the overlapping plates of which the tank is constructed, and a hook flexibly attached to the floating roof, said hook adapted for engagement with said socket member.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this 9th day of January, 1931.

GEORGE T. HORTON. 

